Vestal residents request road survey

Analysis would help to create ordinance for gas trucks

Aug. 8, 2011

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VESTAL -- A group looking to create an ordinance for industrial trucks involved in the natural gas industry will ask the town board to authorize a survey of local roads.

Friends of Vestal is seeking an outside firm -- Delta Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors -- to perform a survey on the town's roads in preparation for what is expected to be an influx of traffic caused by natural gas drilling trucks.

By having an idea of the shape of the roads prior to the expected increase in commercial truck traffic, the town will better be able to gauge the damage to roads caused by the additional strain.

"We realize now, with collecting almost 500 signatures, how concerned Vestal residents are about the roads and the road conditions," said Friends of Vestal member Pat Roberts.

The group previously asked the town to create an ordinance that would make those involved in natural gas drilling liable for repairs to roads their trucks travel on. The ordinance would design routes to and from natural gas project sites, require permits for trucks weighing more than 40,000 pounds, require insurance and bonding to pay for road repairs and establish regulations for days and hours of truck traffic.

The cost of hiring an outside firm wouldn't be inexpensive, said Town Supervisor Pete Andreasen, adding that the cost is about $7,550 per mile.

"We've got roughly 65 miles of country road," he said.

Councilman John Schaffer said the town has employees who can handle a road survey.

"We've got a town engineer. We've got a highway superintendent," he said. "I would say Brock (Highway Superintendent Brock Leonard) knows more about the roads in Vestal than anybody. He knows their strengths. He knows their weaknesses."

But those in favor of hiring Delta said the firm could provide a comprehensive plan for the town's infrastructure, including which areas are not able to handle industrial traffic.

"It would give us an idea of what is available to do and what is not available to do," Roberts said.

When natural gas drilling -- specifically fracking -- comes to New York, it will be here for decades, she said. That means paying up front to help plan for the future would be an invaluable investment.